OTSC has long been described in the scientific literature as a highly effective device for the treatment of upper GI hemorrhage. Now a randomized-controlled trial at 9 academic referral centers (in Germany, Switzerland, and Hong Kong) has proven OTSC to be superior to standard methods. The trial, published by Dr. Arthur Schmidt, Ludwigsburg, Germany, enrolled 66 patients with recurrent bleeding and randomized them to receive either OTSC therapy or standard techniques (a combination of 2 methods from through the scope clipping, injection or electrical coagulation).

Persistent bleeding after per-protocol hemostasis was observed in 42.4% of patients in the standard therapy group and 6.0% in the OTSC group (P=.001). Further bleeding occurred in 57.6% in the standard therapy group and 15.2% in the OTSC group (absolute difference, 42.4%; 95% CI 21.6-63.2; P=.001).